Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16 NLT
We had a busy, exhausting but enjoyable weekend...we traveled several hours for Bug's family reunion - it was wonderful! But now we're back to reality with day long meetings in cities not too close....and the alarm goes off way to early and I'm finding myself to be very drained....wondering how I'm going to get through the entire day without collapsing....and then I get to work, flip my calendar to today and see that encouragement, take a deep breath...and relax, feel the peace and move on.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Hope.
hope –noun 1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to give up hope.
2. a particular instance of this feeling: the hope of winning.
3. grounds for this feeling in a particular instance: There is little or no hope of his recovery.
4. a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope.
5. something that is hoped for: Her forgiveness is my constant hope.
–verb (used with object)
6. to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.
7. to believe, desire, or trust: I hope that my work will be satisfactory.
–verb (used without object)
8. to feel that something desired may happen: We hope for an early spring.
9. Archaic. to place trust; rely (usually fol. by in).—Idiom
10. hope against hope, to continue to hope, although the outlook does not warrant it: We are hoping against hope for a change in her condition
Hope.
It's a word we use a lot. I hope it doesn't rain. I hope we have ice cream. I hope these shoes fit.
what about There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18 (NIV).
Well that's cool.
what does it mean?
It means that when I put my hope in God, when I dare to let go of the reins, stop insisting I have to be in control and let God be ...well...GOD.....I can relax. I can rest easy knowing I'm not suddenly going to be dropped. Yes, I'm a worrisome paranoid woman. But....he sees much further down the road than I do and knows exactly where I need to turn and when I need to speed up, slow down or simply stop and rest in his arms.
And that, my friends, is a reason to take a deep breath and sit back. Relax. and stop trying to figure out what the picture on the grand quilt is. To be content to work my piece and know it's just a piece of a much grander plan. Hope - promise in a future, something to look forward to...
2. a particular instance of this feeling: the hope of winning.
3. grounds for this feeling in a particular instance: There is little or no hope of his recovery.
4. a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope.
5. something that is hoped for: Her forgiveness is my constant hope.
–verb (used with object)
6. to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.
7. to believe, desire, or trust: I hope that my work will be satisfactory.
–verb (used without object)
8. to feel that something desired may happen: We hope for an early spring.
9. Archaic. to place trust; rely (usually fol. by in).—Idiom
10. hope against hope, to continue to hope, although the outlook does not warrant it: We are hoping against hope for a change in her condition
Hope.
It's a word we use a lot. I hope it doesn't rain. I hope we have ice cream. I hope these shoes fit.
what about There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18 (NIV).
Well that's cool.
what does it mean?
It means that when I put my hope in God, when I dare to let go of the reins, stop insisting I have to be in control and let God be ...well...GOD.....I can relax. I can rest easy knowing I'm not suddenly going to be dropped. Yes, I'm a worrisome paranoid woman. But....he sees much further down the road than I do and knows exactly where I need to turn and when I need to speed up, slow down or simply stop and rest in his arms.
And that, my friends, is a reason to take a deep breath and sit back. Relax. and stop trying to figure out what the picture on the grand quilt is. To be content to work my piece and know it's just a piece of a much grander plan. Hope - promise in a future, something to look forward to...
I know the plans I have for you ... Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."- Jeremiah 29:11
Friday, July 10, 2009
I love those reminders...
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 NIV
So even though I'm stressing the answer....he heard me....I don't have to repeat myself a hundred times....it's time to be quiet and listen....I know what I asked is within His will, I know what his word says about this...and I know He heard me....
........so I gotta say I'm convinced that's why I feel enveloped in peace today.
I pray this reminder reminds you of the blanket of peace you have too....
have a great weekend.
So even though I'm stressing the answer....he heard me....I don't have to repeat myself a hundred times....it's time to be quiet and listen....I know what I asked is within His will, I know what his word says about this...and I know He heard me....
........so I gotta say I'm convinced that's why I feel enveloped in peace today.
I pray this reminder reminds you of the blanket of peace you have too....
have a great weekend.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Claiming this today...
Whose Report Shall You Believe
(Becky Fender)
Whose report will you believe?
We shall believe the report of the Lord (repeat 3 times)
His report says I am healed
His report says I am filled
His report says I am free
His report says victory
We get many reports. We get good reports, bad reports, report cards, reports on good behavior, reports on our cars, our health, our food....there are many reports. There are reports that make us jump for joy. There are reports that make us crawl under the bed with a favorite teddy bear and cry for days...there are reports that make us cringe....reports that make us angry....but ...what about the report that says "ok. this is bad. it's a rough situation, BUT there is hope. There is peace. There is joy."
I like that one...sign me up!
I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:4-5
(Becky Fender)
Whose report will you believe?
We shall believe the report of the Lord (repeat 3 times)
His report says I am healed
His report says I am filled
His report says I am free
His report says victory
We get many reports. We get good reports, bad reports, report cards, reports on good behavior, reports on our cars, our health, our food....there are many reports. There are reports that make us jump for joy. There are reports that make us crawl under the bed with a favorite teddy bear and cry for days...there are reports that make us cringe....reports that make us angry....but ...what about the report that says "ok. this is bad. it's a rough situation, BUT there is hope. There is peace. There is joy."
I like that one...sign me up!
I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:4-5
Monday, July 06, 2009
coupla pics to start your week....
We had a quiet Independence Day celebration....spent the day together, caught some fireworks in an overcrowded park.... 
it was quite sunny....but we enjoyed our outing :-D
it was quite sunny....but we enjoyed our outing :-DWeekend was ok too...we're getting our new fridge on Saturday so I needed to start cleaning out the freezer....
so I made quadruple berry cobbler....which we enjoyed while watching a movie.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
July already?
wow....this year is just flying! At this point last year, we were tying up the loose ends of wedding preparations, getting excited for our wedding, N brother's wedding and J friend's wedding....hard to believe it's been nearly a year!
It's a rainy and dreary week here....which of course always puts me in a pensive mood. I'd love nothing more than to go home, curl up with a book (re-reading Piercing the Darkness for the billionth time), a cup of something warm (dusted off the espresso machine Monday night...) and my favorite fleece blanket...let the storm rage outside and enjoy the peace inside. Which of course...makes me think.
You've all heard one of my favorite quotes (and I really wish I knew who said it!) Sometimes God quiets the storm...and sometimes God lets the storm rage and quiets the child. How true - and how often do we miss that He is actually calming us? We are inside of our houses, safe and warm, staring at the rain blowing sideways, jumping when the thunder booms.....focusing all on the storm rather than enjoying the beauty in it and knowing that God's got it all....
Did she just say beauty of the storm? Yep. I did. James 2 -4 (message version) tells us to Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
when? Did that say when I endure trials of many kinds? But I thought once I became a Christian all that stuff went away and God supplies all my needs and I get to just live on a cloud full of joy....
well...God does supply all of our needs...but we must weather those storms....we must press through and endure the refinement....and when we do....it's amazing what God does. We can step back and see the beauty of the storm -- remember the smooth beautiful stone made so by the waves? The pearl....sand made beautiful by being eaten? The coal pressed but not crushed....pressure from all sides....becomes a diamond...
My prayer today is that we press on....take hold of the promises, and learn to enjoy the beauty in the storm.
I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted, not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. I am blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure for His joy's gonna be my strength....though the sorrows may last for the night, His joy comes with the morning! (Trading My Sorrows)
It's a rainy and dreary week here....which of course always puts me in a pensive mood. I'd love nothing more than to go home, curl up with a book (re-reading Piercing the Darkness for the billionth time), a cup of something warm (dusted off the espresso machine Monday night...) and my favorite fleece blanket...let the storm rage outside and enjoy the peace inside. Which of course...makes me think.
You've all heard one of my favorite quotes (and I really wish I knew who said it!) Sometimes God quiets the storm...and sometimes God lets the storm rage and quiets the child. How true - and how often do we miss that He is actually calming us? We are inside of our houses, safe and warm, staring at the rain blowing sideways, jumping when the thunder booms.....focusing all on the storm rather than enjoying the beauty in it and knowing that God's got it all....
Did she just say beauty of the storm? Yep. I did. James 2 -4 (message version) tells us to Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
when? Did that say when I endure trials of many kinds? But I thought once I became a Christian all that stuff went away and God supplies all my needs and I get to just live on a cloud full of joy....
well...God does supply all of our needs...but we must weather those storms....we must press through and endure the refinement....and when we do....it's amazing what God does. We can step back and see the beauty of the storm -- remember the smooth beautiful stone made so by the waves? The pearl....sand made beautiful by being eaten? The coal pressed but not crushed....pressure from all sides....becomes a diamond...
My prayer today is that we press on....take hold of the promises, and learn to enjoy the beauty in the storm.
I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted, not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. I am blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure for His joy's gonna be my strength....though the sorrows may last for the night, His joy comes with the morning! (Trading My Sorrows)
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